NBC - Give Tucker Carlson Russert's Meet The Press Chair

Say NBC -- now that you're canceling Tucker Carlson's show on MSNBC, why don't you give him Tim Russert's chair on Meet The Press?

Carlson is younger, better-looking and faster-talking. He's mastered the art of silencing people with whom he disagrees by talking over them (a skill Mr. Russert only evidences when ambush-questioning Senators Clinton and Obama while moderating debates).

What you lose in gravitas you'll more than make up for in intellectual honesty. Installing Carlson in the Meet The Press moderator's chair would put an end to that kabuki of even-handedness that Mr. Russert, you and your owners at General Electric have been fobbing off on Sunday morning political junkies for years.

Such a move would give your flagship political program the Fox News right wing shill aura it so richly deserves. Where else on network television can a Democratic politician go to get the Three Stooges treatment, with Mr. Russert in Moe's role, saying, "Why I oughta! C'mere!"

It's a role that Carlson could easily reprise.

The move would also free up Mr. Russert to pursue Democrats on a full time basis -- a pastime that is obviously near and dear to his heart. Who can forget the bulldog-like tenacity with which he pursued the Clintons in the past? Or the barely-concealed contempt for the unfortunate Al Gore and John "Too French" Kerry?

Mr. Russert would also be available for more of those softball games between your network and the Republican Party. Nobody can throw softballs to Republicans like he can. Nor can anyone fail to ask obvious follow up questions quite like that.

Do the right thing, NBC. Give Carlson Russert's Meet The Press gig. Either that or trade him to Fox News for Juan Williams and a liberal to be named later.

Comments

[serenegeezer]

Beautiful.

[raker]

You're right, Carlson would be an improvement. To me the most galling thing about Russert is his pretense of legitimacy. Carlson, another Republican booster is at least upfront about his being vapid and clownish. You know, like Matt Lauer.


Russert's mission is to get his "gets" and keep his access to those monsters he needs to fill the seats on his panel. It's about Russert's ego, stupid.

[BillyCioffi]

Good Post!!

[engineer68]

Russert needs to be in Buffalo, working at a low watt AM radio station.

[TexasDem0]

Put Tucker in a job commensurate with his abilities. Let him work in the mail room.

[oncesung]

Hey! Why not trade him to Fox Noise to replace faux Demodrat Colmes? Or is it Holmes? I can never remember. Carlson is shrill and ferociously hand-waving, but he would still give Hannity a little couth.

[kappa08]

I'm cool with the suggestion of Russert moving along...bu­t Tucker in his seat. NO WAY. He's comes off like a punk that needs the s*** slapped out of him regardless of what side he is on at the moment. He is pure antagonist and not in a good way. In a way that makes you wonder where he is coming from half the time and appears like he is just trying to be a d**k.

[LeftLeaner]

Since Plamegate, Russert's armor has proven to be more than a bit tarnished. Especially, when it was openly revealed (not just speculated) that he was and is, a shill for the RNC by being the vehicle to promote The DICK Cheney's agenda. - a "Frequent" visitor to Mr. Russert's Bush-friendly show.

With the advent of the Internet, Mr. Russert's reputation has been called out on numerous occasions as less than pristine, and I'm "VERY" glad Senator Clinton had also done so during her debate when questioned by him and his sidekick (yawn) Brian WIlliams pointing out their disadvantaged First questioning order to her compared to ther candidates - clearly advantaging Obama.

At least he knows he's being watched now, and has greatly lost much of his prestige and status as the tough but fair, Maverick journalist. He's as much a Maverick as Ol' Johnny McLame.



We're watching you, Timmy.

[Opus007]

This post was long overdue. Russert is not a journalist- he is a paid facilitator for the Corporate Agenda. Don't forget the pats on the back he gives to goverment officials. His moderation of the last debate was horrible.

Have any of you seen The Bill Moyers Journal? He is great. I wish they would find a show for Salon's Glen Greenwald- he is fantastic. Greenwald would not get a corporate media job-- way too truthful.

Good post Peter!

[Democrat08]

Totally agree

[StillAmused]

Fortunately, Chris Matthews already has Curly covered.

[Gary50]

I was thinking more along the line of his replacing Peewee Herman. On second thought, he might not have the gravitas and maturity for that role.

[RabidRightRebel]

How could anyone think that Tucker is anything more than an incompetent hack? I have yet to see him address a real issue in a mature manner. While Russert could also be replaced, to even consider giving such an important role to someone of so little substance speaks volumes as to the sorry state of network television. Beleive me no one will miss the arrogant little twerp.

[NewsCorpse]

If NBC is looking for another slot for Tucker, Meet the Press isn't it.

They have a much more appropriate role for him on a show he could truly contribute to:

The Biggest Loser!

http://www.newscorpse.com/ncWP/?p=817

It was made for him.

[maggieb]

Just thinking this may not be too bad of an idea. Lets see Tucker would represent change as spouted by the newbies (Obamanites) and Russert would represent the old guard ala Hillary. That would indeed be fun to see Russert squirm about being replaced by a younger man.